The MUSE Integration team on behalf of the whole MUSE Consortium is proud to announce the finalization of the MUSE instrument integration at CRAL.
After an intense period of channel and IFU integration, the 24th IFU has been integrated and put in operation yesterday 07/06/2013.
As you can (…)

Delivery of the field splitter optic (FSO) by the Company Winlight
The field splitter optic is one of the central parts of the instrument MUSE. It is indeed this piece optic “cutting and separating” the field observed by the telescope 24 “slices” to send then each slice into 24 (…)

Deformation tests by inserting “Dummies”
ESO ,Gottingen, and CRAL, chose to insert « 24 Dummies » mass of 86 kg (without cables DV)to simulate the 24 IFU on the structure of the IMS to the instrument MUSE to identify possible deformations that may cause misalignment of optical see the (…)

Deformation tests by inserting “Dummies”
ESO ,Gottingen, and CRAL, chose to insert « 24 Dummies » mass of 86 kg (without cables DV)to simulate the 24 IFU on the structure of the IMS to the instrument MUSE to identify possible deformations that may cause misalignment of optical see the (…)

The first light on a full path of MUSE has been achieved !
The Field splitter prototype and mirrors on path 18 have been aligned using the Fore Optics sighting telescope. Then the single lens and the 2 doublets have been inserted on path 18. You can see the assembly of the Field Splitter and (…)

The first light on a full path of MUSE has been achieved !
The Field splitter prototype and mirrors on path 18 have been aligned using the Fore Optics sighting telescope. Then the single lens and the 2 doublets have been inserted on path 18. You can see the assembly of the Field Splitter and (…)

Instrument Main Structure (IMS) Installed & Aligned with Regards to the VLT Simulator
After Reception the Instrument Main Structure was handled to its integration location on the Nasmyth Platform replica which was aligned and consistent with the VLT simulator simulating the VLT focus. The IMS (…)

The sub-systems have been received, installed and re-aligned in the integration hall.
The team has successfully set back in operation the system (Wide Field Mode only) as it were in Toulouse (see picture attached)